(CNN) – A friend of President Barack Obama was arrested Monday for allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover officer posing as a prostitute, according to CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now.

Robert Richard Titcomb, 49, was arrested with three other men Monday night and released later that evening after posting $500 bail. He is scheduled to appear at the Honolulu District Court May 2.
The Honolulu Department of Public Safety confirmed Titcomb's arrest to CNN Wednesday. The Honolulu Police Department confirmed an arrest with matching information but would not disclose the name of the individual.

According to Hawaii News Now, Titcomb and the president have been close friends since high school. The two are frequently seen golfing and dining together when the Obama family visits Hawaii.

Most recently the Obama family spent time with the Titcombs on a trip to Hawaii in late December 2010 and early January 2011. White House pool reports at the time noted Titcomb by name on multiple dates during the trip. According to CNN records, President Obama golfed with Titcomb on December 23, December 26, December 28 and January 2. The first family was joined by the Titcomb family on Christmas Day and spent most of December 30 at the Titcomb residence eating, playing volleyball and enjoying time on the beach. The first couple also had dinner with the Titcomb on December 29.

soundoff(133 Responses)

And this is news why CNN?? Are we all to be held accountable for "friends" who live halfway around the world??? We're facing a govt. shut down and this is worth reading???

April 7, 2011 08:44 am at 8:44 am |

Pete

Wait a minute. This guy can't be a high school friend of the president. I thought NOBODY remembered him from then, right Birthers?

April 7, 2011 08:44 am at 8:44 am |

Charlotte Flanary

And this is relevant how?

April 7, 2011 08:47 am at 8:47 am |

Change Again

You just can't make up a funnier name for this story's lead character! I don't see the big deal though. Hillary's friend solicited and actually closed the deal with a temp worker and now she's Sec State.

April 7, 2011 08:48 am at 8:48 am |

blaqmajik

LMFAO...this just in a friend of a friends, of a second cousin, of a teacher, of a roommate, of a dog sitter, of a plumber who said his boss was a friend of Obama.....J-walked and was given a $50 fine....I am sorry but why is this here. Are we no responsible for our friend’s daily lives and troubles? Mark my words, since Obama announced his re-election campaign there will be more stories like this.

April 7, 2011 08:50 am at 8:50 am |

Don

For anyone interested, Fox News will cover this story 24 – 7

April 7, 2011 08:51 am at 8:51 am |

Shayne

How is this news relevant to politics? How about something on Wisconsin's election, the budget showdown, or you know, ANYTHING that has to do with actual politics and not cheap ratings points.

April 7, 2011 08:53 am at 8:53 am |

Jeff from Va

I just can't believe that a friend of the president would do somthing like this, or better yet, i can't believe that CNN had the guts to print it!!!!!!

April 7, 2011 09:00 am at 9:00 am |

ConservaFascists/FUBAR

Prostition should be legal in Hawaii. Really! There's a police station right on the Waikiki strip and they don't even bother the prostitutes. I've seen this with my own two eyes when I was stationed out there.

April 7, 2011 09:01 am at 9:01 am |

DeDee

This is reportable news? WHY??? Are YOU responsible for what your friends do or don't do? Come on folks, give me something important and newsworthy, not tabloid trash.

We need better news not such narrow minded stuff. Police ochestrate such stupid stings to justify their jobs. Was there any sex involved? Did money change hands? Who made the the first attempt?

Write about ongoing massive TAX EVASION by

April 7, 2011 09:05 am at 9:05 am |

larry

so why does this deserve to be national news? CNN you can do better

April 7, 2011 09:08 am at 9:08 am |

The reality is...

The liberals will say it wasn't his fault, he was destined with the name.

April 7, 2011 09:16 am at 9:16 am |

Jon in Rochester NY

This may be news in Hawaii, but why is it national news? So what has this to really do with Obama? If he arranged for the prostitute that would be one thing. This is what you call reporting? What next, Obama's drycleaner gets a DWI?

April 7, 2011 09:18 am at 9:18 am |

catmom

And this has what to do with the President?

April 7, 2011 09:20 am at 9:20 am |

Lolo

I guess to the republicans and tea partiers this means that President Obama was soliciting too. Here comes the nonsense. His friend is a grown man and can think for himself.

April 7, 2011 09:23 am at 9:23 am |

Carmelle

Is he married? If so, I feel sorry for his wife and his kids.

Has nothing to do with the fact that he happens to have grown up with a guy who later happened to become POTUS.

April 7, 2011 09:24 am at 9:24 am |

Baby Boomer

I suppose now President Obama will be blamed for having poor taste in friends, when the real issue here is this mans poor judgement and failure to STAY AT HOME. If I was held responsible for everything the friends I've had since childhood I wouldn't have any friends...

April 7, 2011 09:29 am at 9:29 am |

Kenneth

And this is news because??? The oldest profession in the history of the world and President Obama MUST be accountable. GOP trying the guilt by association tactic and drumming up the birther BS! silly season ... silly season ... GOP,GOP ...

April 7, 2011 09:30 am at 9:30 am |

LogicAndReality

.... so what? Doesn't everybody have high school friends whom have made bone head moves?

April 7, 2011 09:33 am at 9:33 am |

Texan

and.... What's the point of this story?

April 7, 2011 09:35 am at 9:35 am |

Blue Person Group

It's funny because he's a friend of Obama. It's an indication of how messed up our society is because we could actually be paying for trying and incarcerating a dude whose only crime is not getting what he needed at home.

Lock up the prostitutes in the House and Senate. They take "campaign contributions," or "bribes" as we used to call them, and do whatever their lobbyist Johns ask.

April 7, 2011 09:35 am at 9:35 am |

Rsprings

Whats the problem...If you think about BO has been screwing most of us for a while now. But seriously, other than he is a friend of BO this should not be big news.